Abrasive and polishing device



Oct. 2,3, 1934. E TOLMAN l 1,977,746

ABRASIVE AND POLISHING DEVICE Filed July ll. 1932 N Fgf F23 INVEN TOR.

E51. l HENRY 5 TOL/MAN BY W 2%/7 A TTORNE YS.

l Patented ct. 23, 1934 t ,UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 1,977,746 ABRASIVE AND PGLISHING DEVICE `Henry ErTolman, Detroit, Mich.. Application July 11, 1932, Serial No. 621,883 1 Claim. (Cl. 51-209) This invention relates to an improved abrasive Fig. 4 isa vertical sectional view illustrating and polishing device and to the method of makthe step of removing a body of strands from the ing the same. temporary contractible band and clamping ring The main objects of the invention are to proshown in Figs. 2 and 3. 5 vide a device of this character which has the ex- Fig.` 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, illustrating '60 tremities of a multiplicity of strand-like abrading the removal of the body of compressed -strands elements, such as strands of steel or other metal from the contracting band and clamping ring wool, exposed at its working surface; to provide and illustrating the manner in which finely cornan abrasive or polishing head which has a main 'minuted abrasive material may be distributed body portion composed of strands of metal wol throughout the mass of the strands. 65 mounted on end and extending substantially Fig.' 6 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 5 shownormal to the working surface thereof so as to ing the final step in the removal of the comcontinuously maintain sharp cutting extremities pressed mass of metal strands and illustrating the of the strands at the working surface as the latmanner in which the `metal strands are bound i l5'ter wears; to provide a device of this kind in together and maintained under lateral compres- 70 'S which the strands are held ina compact mass sion(v under lateral. compression and thereby prevent- Fig. 7 is a side elevational view, partly in seced from bending in such a manner as to remove tion, of an abrasive or polishing device embodythe extremities of the strands from the working ing my invention which is adapted for attachsurface; and to provide an abrasive head which ment toa spindle or other drive member. 75

is iexible and susceptible of bending into con- Fig. 8 is a sid elevational viewypartly in secformity with curved surfaces during its application, of an abrasive or polishing device embOdY- tion thereto. ing a further development of the invention and Other objects of the invention are to provide a vwhich is adapted to be manually manipulated.

method for mounting a multiplicity of strands of vMy improved abrasive and polishing device may 80 metal wool or other strand-like abrading membe conveniently and economically manufactured bers on end upon a support in a'manner such that in the manner illustrated in the drawing with the strands mutually support each other in subthe aidof the apparatus shown therein. In the s'tantially parallel relationship and present amulform shown theA apparatus includes a bed or tiplicity of free extremities for abrading pursupport 10 having a substantially flat upper face 85 poses; to provide a method of this character by 11 on which is disposed asplit, contractible collar which the strands are mounted on end upon a 12 having overlapping extremities. Substantially pad comprising ilexible material andrigidly secompletely surrounding the collar 12 are a pair cured to the lat'tr; to provide a method of this of flexiblel bands 13, preferably comprisingspring kind in .which the ends of the strands on one steel, both of which are'rigidly xed at one end 90 l, side of the compact mass of strands are integralto a shoe lllr which is either pivotally or rigidly ly bonded by vulcanization to a rubber pad; and mounted upon the support 10. The other end to provide for the distribution of nely comportions of the bands 13 are coiled upon and minuted abrasive material throughout the enfixed toa spindle 15 which is rotatably mounted 40 tirety of mass of strands of a device of this charin a substantially vertical upright position upon 95 acter. the support 10. The spindle 15 is provided on An illustrative embodiment of the invention is its upper end with a wheel 16 which may be shown in the accompanying drawing, in which: turned by hand, or by power driven mechanism,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a bundle so as to wind the bands 13 upon the spindle and of metal strands of the character embodied in thereby contract the split collar '12. The shoe 100 metal wool and from which myimproved abrasive 14 has an arcuate side face 17 against which head is formed, and illustrating the rst operathe collar 12 is drawn during contraction of the tion to which the stranded material is subjected. latter.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view. partly in sec- The stock from which my improved polishing tion, showing apparatus for compressing the or abrasive device is constructed may either 105v metal strands and illustrating the manner in wholly or partly consist of metal strands 18 of which they are arranged, as well as the compressthe character employed in metal wool. Strands ing operation. l of this type are obtainable in loosely bound buny Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown inV dles of considerable length which may be con- Fig. 2 illustrating the compressing operation. veniently cut up into sections 19 of uniform 110 lengths, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The strands may consist of metals, such as steel, bronze, aluminum, or other suitable metals.

The sections 19 are placedon end within the contractible collar 12 while the latter is in an expanded state. Strands of different kinds of metal may be mixed together and placed within the contractible collar 12, if desired. In some instances, it may be found advantageous to in;

termingle with the metal strands, non-metallic stra'nds comprising either hair-like vegetable or animal matter. When the interior of the expanded collar 12 is completely filled with sections 4of strands, the wheel 16 is turned so as to wind the bands 13 thereon. In this manner the collar 12 is contracted and the strands 18 are tightly compressed laterally into a compact mass. A split clamping ring 20 is then disposed around the collar 12 and securely clamped thereon by tightening a screw 21 so a's to temporarily hold the mass of strands in a compressed state. The wheel 16 which may, if desired, be held against clockwise rotation, as viewed in Fig. 2, by a ratchet or other mechanism (not shown) is then released and turned in a clockwise direction so as to loosen the bands 13.

The compressed mass of strands, together with the surrounding collar 12 and clamping ring 20, is removed from the support 10 and placed upon a support 22 having a cylindrical passage 23 thereon substantially equal in diameter to the diameter of the compressed mass of strands 18.'

The outer periphery of the mass of strands 18 is brought into registration with the walls of the passage 23 and a plunger 24 is inserted into the upper end of the collar 12 for the purpose of displacing the compressed mass of strands from the collar and inserting it into the passage 23. The displacement of the compressed mass of strands from the collar 12 may be interrupted after the plunger 24 has been partially inserted into the collar 12 and the plunger may be Withdrawn at this stage so as to permit a mixture of finely comminuted abrasive material 25 and a suitable vehicle which may include cement, to be introduced into the upper end of the collar 12. The abrasive material is then distributed between the strands by pressure when the plunger 24 is reinserted into the collar 12 and extended therethrough for the purpose of displacing the compressed mass of strands. If it is not desired to have a finely comminuted abrasive material distributed throughout the mass of strands, the plunger may be inserted completely into the-collar 12 during a continuous operation While omitting the introduction of the abrasive material.

As soon as the end portions of the strands are projected far enough beyond the lower side of the support Y22 they are rmly bound toether by tape 26, or other suitable material which retains the strands 18 in a lateral compressed state after the compressed mass thereof is removed from the passage 23 of the support 22 by further downward movement of the'plunger 24.

After the strands are bound together by tape and are removed from the passage of the support 22 the bound end portions thereof are fixed to a suitable support 27 which may comprise rigid or flexible material. In the form shown the pad 27 consists of rubber and it is integrally bonded by vulcanization to the extremities of the bound end portions of the strands 18. The rubber of the pad 2'7 may be extended over the peripheral portion of the pressed layer of strandsto any desired extent and may, if desired, be formed so as to envelope the tape 26. If steel or other ferrous metal strands are employed, the extremities of the bound end portions of the strands are preferably plated with bronze or other metal to which rubber readily bonds during vulcanization. The rubber pad 2'7 may be moulded on and simultaneously vulcanized to the bound end'portions of the strands. A threaded attaching member '28 is provided on the outer side of the pad 27 for the purpose of detachably connecting the device with either power or hand driven mechanism by which it may be rotated, reciprocated, or otherwise moved over a surface of a piece of work.

The abrasive or polishing device shown in Fig. 8 may be constructed in the precise manner illustrated and described above by employing sections of strands of shorter length than those shown in Fig. 1. The layer of rubber 29 in this form of polishing or abrasive tool is substantially thin and is provided with a band 30 which is adapted to t over the back of a hand so that the device may be conveniently manually manipulated.

In both forms of the invention the working surface of the device is made up of a multiplicity of the extremities of strands which have substantially high cutting power. This working face may be machined toa desired concaved or convexed curvature. During operation of a device of this character' the flexible pad or support to which the strands are xed bends freely during movement of the device over a curved surface of a piece of Work. The lateral compression under which the strands are held maintains them in substantial parallel relationship and they are thereby mutually supported by each other against bending in such a manner as to remove the extremities of the strands from the working surface of the device.

will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and it .is not my intention to limit its scope other than by the terms of the appended claims.v

What I claim is:

An abrasive device including a backing comprising a flexible rubber composition, an abrading member having. substantially greater transverse dimensions thanv thickness and comprising a multiplicity of metal strandsarranged in side to side, substantially parallel, and metal to metal contacting relationship with corresponding extremities on opposite sides 0f said member respectively, the end portions of said strandson only one side of said member being bonded by vulcanization to and engaged by said rubber backing and the opposite extremities of said strands constituting the working surfaceof said 

